Sargeant students donate more than $300 worth of toys

Photo by Philip WoodSargeant Elementary School student council officers Sarah Wassom, left, Tiffany Aiello and California Highway Patrol Officer Dave Montijo applaud the students for donating to the CHiPS for Kids Toy Drive during an assembly Monday.

Sargeant Elementary School students got into the holiday spirit during an assembly Monday by singing Christmas carols and donating toys to other children in need.

The student council donated more than $300 worth of gifts to California Highway Patrol Officer Dave Montijo as part of the 13th annual CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive. The toys will be delivered to hospitalized and disadvantaged children in time for Christmas.

“Can you imagine waking up Christmas morning in a hospital?” Montijo asked the students. “We like to do what we can to make those kids happy by giving them toys.”

The school has participated in the toy drive for several years, said teacher Christina Bartell, who co-advises the student council. Earlier this month, four student officers shopped for the gifts at Walmart.

“It was really exciting to know these toys are going to children with no presents,” said fifth grader Tiffany Aiello.

Her mom, Cindy Aiello, helped with the project.

“This is going to make someone so happy,” she said. “It’s really neat.”

This year, Girl Scout Troop 3823 also got involved, donating about 25 toys. Each girl was asked to donate a toy and the item was then matched with another gift paid for with money from the troop’s cookie sales.

Montijo thanked the children and told them that collecting the presents is one of his favorite activities to conduct as an officer.

“One of the things I like about doing a toy drive is it gives me a chance to do something nice for people, not just writing tickets and taking people to jail, which is important, too,” he said.

Sena Christian can be reached at senac@goldcountrymedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at SenaC_RsvPT.